The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-05-19

with pedal extremities unencuml cred
by hide of OK or goat, with well turned
ankles to 'broidered hose stranger, the
scant pattern of whose costume was
cut according to the cloth" SO liter
ally that looking on | could but recall
Tam O'Shanter's famous dance in
Kirk Alloway-such a crowd, in the
very abandon of nature, drunk with
music's inspiring strains, mixing and
mingling as they may while confusion
in every set reigns supreme, despite
the trumpet-tongued commands of the
prompter who vainly endeavors to at
tain despotic sway, what historian,
! however talented and honest can por-
tray?
Selecting partner who had been
"to boarding school" l houndered
through the saw dust for one set, had
participated in bran dance-and had
glory enough. With my fair lady
clinging tightly to the side where the
heart beats are felt, / wendell my way
to the pleasant shade of wide spread
ing oak, and rested my weary limbs
on the fallen trunk of an ancient tree.
| made several attempts at converse
ton, but being "stranger in Athens
and unlearned in the small chat Of that
ilk my efforts were futile. After about
five minutes of that profound silence,
sometimes more eloquent than words,
| ventured to ask if she was fond of
the round dance. Turning upon me
with look of amazement | shall never
forget, she gasped, Ground dances
what's them? | never hearn of 'em."
In moment was as thirsty as wan
derer on the desert of Sahara-dryer
than | have been since local option
has been in Henderson, and with a
profound bow left her s'alone in her
glory to seek some spirits corn, rye
or Uinh. Asking several acquaint-
ances who were said to be cup to
snuff" where l could get a drink I
was told there was probably nota drop
in twenty miles thai prohibition pro-
hlbited there,-~(These fellows were
honest in What they told me, but they
were unsophisticated +; they lacked
travel. Sauntering through the crowd
in search of some scent or sign to
guide me to the thing sought, l met
an i'll omened specimen of the genus
h0mo, whose blear-eyes and unsteady
gait elected the involuntary exclama-
ton Eureka" With woe BECOME
visage | addressed my man in tones OF
most dire distress with "Doctor, l am
terribly sick-f am threatened with a
fit. Can you do anything for ME
Have you laudanum or paragoric with
you" Never before having been SC
urbanely or SO honorably addressed
his unsightly countenance assumed a
seraphlc smile, he grasped me by the
hand and hurried me behind the great
water wheel of the mill, took from 8
CreviCe in the water-covered rock ar
honest, old-fashiened quart bottle O.
as good brandy Gf am not mistaken
as | ever drank. Begging me for Cod.
sake not to have a fit and die as
'twould "spile the meetin','' insisting
that l should come and get more wher
| needed it, etc. 1t was soon whis
pered around that l had 4 fit; the CIR
| had danced with was about to faint
and such was the general excitemen
| had to 60 upon the music stand anc
knock off few "'Old Virginia breal
down" steps to the tune of "leathe
breeches' to convince them | was no
dead. ! was sorry did it, for tn,
applause. of a thousand threats wa
poor pay for the number | had to learl
my steps to.